The last week brought our species total for the patch to 52 with a cracking pair of Peregrine Falcons that were stooping at the resident flock of feral doves that inhabit one of the local barns ,fantastic to watch and a great bird to see at any time of the year.
There have been a few signs of early spring with the first Linnet seen on Tuesday for quite awhile and a number of singing Skylark over the fields. The other feature has been the number of winter Thrush that have passed through the patch ,its usual as birds filter back North and Eastwards . Its the same with Starlings and numbers have been on the rise as a result.
So Sunday was the only day we could get out and Willow and I were out by 7.30am .There had been a frost ahead of the forecasted wet weather and it felt bone chilling whilst walking about.
The first bird seen was a Jay that has been visiting the garden of late and whilst out another one was heard , perhaps they have been there all along but just gone a bit quiet of late.
The whole patch was covered in Thrush this morning with at least 150 plus Redwing and 250 plus Fieldfares , they were bouncing all over the fields and hedges .The birds are looking really dapper as they prepare to leave for the north lands. The other bird that is keeping them company is the Starling with at least 800 plus on the patch this morning.
We still appear to have our winter Blackbirds in residence with 26 plus on the patch this morning.
Overhead a few bids passed over with a decent showing of Lapwings with 137 plus seen and a/some Golden Plover were heard but I could not manage to pick them up out of the big blue. A Cormorant passed heading due East , may be a departing winter visitor ?
On the pastures themselves a few Meadow Pipits are about ,but there were only 10 birds this morning, more will pass through as the spring proceeds. Skylarks numbered 10 plus today with at least 3 singing. Stock Dove are displaying and singing with 10 seen around their usual breeding areas.
The Wagtail passage still trickles through with at least 15 pus today, but I have yet to find a White in amongst them yet. The Woodpecker family got into the act with a Greater Spotted flying over and 1 plus Green calling from around the patch.
The other two species of note that passed over ,were a Raven carrying what looked like his breakfast and a Grey Heron which was heading north .
So the species list for this year stands at 52 .
